Maharashtra: Govt. To Turn 25 Forts Into Heritage Hotels

The Maharashtra government is planning to convert some of its forts into heritage hotels to promote private investment into the tourism sector amid the heritage tourism and destination weddings gaining popularity across the country.

The state-run Maharashtra Tourism DevelopmentCorporation (MTDC) recently spotted about 25 forts across the state that willbe offered to heritage hoteliers and hospitality chains on lease.

However, the citizens are not happy with thegovernment's decision to commercialize heritage properties.

While the state is looking forward to bring moretourism and investment there has been certain dissent shown by people statingthat their sentiments are being hurt by converting their heritage lands intobusiness as these properties are memories of their ancient warriors.

State Tourism Secretary, Vinita Singhal while defendingthe decision said that the forts have been divided into two categories. Type 1comprises of 100 protected forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj which are maintainedby the Archaeological Survey of India. She said that they has no intention totouch them keeping in mind their heritage values and sentiments of people.

She further stated that it is the Type 2 forts thatwill be converted into heritage hotels.